Locomotive boiler



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Patented May 5, 1931v UNITED STATES BERT E. LARSON, OF PARK. RIDGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR T LOCOMOTIVE FIREBOX COM- PATENT OFFICE'.r

PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIONOF DELAWARE v LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Application led August 17, 1929. Serial No. 386,660.

This invention relates to improvements in locomotive boilers and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

y, The primary object of the invention is tov provide in a thermic siphon equipped locomotive boiler, a novel connection for the inlet neck of the siphons, with a point forward of the front water leg, which connection is located outside of the boiler shell Where it is easy for access for cleaning and inspection. t

Another object of the invention is to provide a well on the outside of a portion of is the boiler shell forward of the front water leg and in communication with the interior of said shell with which the inlet necks of the siphons in the fire and combustion chambers respectively may be readily connected 2o in a manner permitting movement of said siphons under the action of temperature changes, without leakage.

These objects of theinvention, as well as others together with the many advantages thereof will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawing Fig.. l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the freboX end of a locomotive boiler embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of parts shownin thelower right hand corner of Fig. l on an enlarged scale. V

Referring now in detail tothat embodiment of the invention illustratedin the accompanying drawing, the boiler includes a lireboX comprising a liuc sheet 1,-an inner rear sheet 2 and a crown-sheet 3 extending therebetween. 5 indicates oneV lof the side sheets of the flreboX which includes a fire chamber 6 and a combustion chamber 7 forward of the same. The bottom 8 of the combustion chamber is made as a continuation of the inner front throat sheet 9 of the iirebox.

outer rear sheettherefor and 12 indicates the outer front throat sheet of the boiler. Several of the sheets mentioned provide the front water leg o r throat 13, the rear water 10 indicates the shell of the boiler, 11 the i leg '14 and side water legs (not shown) all in communication with the boiler water space of the boiler and closed at their bottom Vend by the mud ring 15. The open bottom `of the lire chamber 6 has the usual grate as indicated by the dotted line 16 and in the flue sheet l are secured the usual flues 1a through which the products of combustion pass on their way to the usual smoke box at the front end of the boiler. The construction described may be taken as typical of locomotive boilers having iireboxes of the combustion chamber type.

To increase the eiiiciency of boilers having fireboxes of this type, auxiliary water steaming and circulating elements are employed in both the lire chamber and in the combustion chamber. Such elements usually are what have now become known as the Nicholson thermic siphons and each comprises a fiat hollow body disposed longitudi-V nally in the fireboX and opening at one end, through the 'crown sheet and terminating at the other end in a tubular inlet neck. Heretofore the neck of the siphon `in the fire chamber opened thru and was liXed in the inner throat sheet 9 and the neck of the Siphon in the combustion chamber openedA through and was Xed in the bottom wall 8 of the combustion chamber.

As the flat hollow body of the siphons pre-A sent a considerable heating surface area to the products of combustion, it is-iapparent that Va movement of the elements develops under change of temperature. 1 it has been attempted te accommodate such movement by forming annularly corrugated flexible diaphragm parts in the front throat sheet 9 and bottom wall 8 of the combustion chamber respectively but such partsdo notV Heretofore,

of the firebox and in some instances there are a plurality ot such siphons in one or the other of said chambers. As shown herein for the sake of simplicity and convenience only one siphon is shown in each chamber. The siphon 17 includes a dat hollow, staybolted Vbody 17 d which is fixed in the rear part of the crown sheet 3 and opens therethrough, and a tubular inlet neck 17b disposed at substantially a right angle to the plane of the throat sheets i) and 12 with which it is associated. The siphon 18 in cludes a flat hollow staybolted body 18 which is ixed in the front part of the crown sheet 3 and opens therethrough, and a tu bular inlet neck 18h the bottom end of which is disposed at substantially a right angle to the plane of the bottom of the shell 10 and bottom wall S of the combustion chamber.

Secured to the shell 13 'an the plane of the siphon neck 18n is a longitudinally extending, cup shaped well member 20. Said member includes a bottom vail 21 and side and end walls and 2&5 respectively which are ianged at their top ends to lit and be tightly secured to the outer cylindrical surface of said shell as by the rivets as shown. In said shell are openings 10"y whereby communication is established between said shell and well. rlhe shell includes a rearwardly facing tubular extension 2i, the purpose ol which will soon appear. ln said bottom wall 21 is provided an opening, which is normally closed by a removable cover plate 21n naving a washout plug 21h therein.

25 indicates a sleeve extending through the front water leg` 13 and iixed at its ends in the sheets 9 and 12 respectively. rlhe bottom end of the tubular inlet neck 17b of the siphon 17 extends into said sleeve without engagement therewith and is there connect ed by coupling 2G with the rear end of an elbow fitting 27. rl`he front end of said litting is made spherical as at 28 to engage against packing rings 29 in the rear end of the tubular extension 2st of the well number 20. A langed nut 30 is screwed onto the rear endet said tubular extension and surrounds a part of said elbow and carries a washer 31 to engage the packing. Thus when the nut is screwed up tight, the packing is compressed upon the spherical end of the elbow to provide a flexible but tight ball `ioint or connection between th-e extension 241 and elbow 27.

A sleeve 32 is lixed at its ends in the shell 10 and bottom wall 3 of the combustion chamber and the bottom end of the inlet neck 18b of the siphon 18 passes down thru the same to extend into the well 2O where it is provided with a fixed collar 33 of a metal unaffected by immersion in water.

Fixed to the bottom surface of the boiler shell 10 about the collar 33 is a plate 34C having a bottom opening recess 35 defined by a depending annular liange 36 and an inward ly extending radial flange or shoulder 37. A pair oi ilat annular packing members 33 is disposed in said recess to engage against the shoulder 37 and to surround the collar 33 on the siphon neck 181. Surrounding each packing member is a contractile spring 39 which normally acts to contract the packing members into snug engagement upon said collar.

A helical expansion spring Li0 engages at one end against the bottommost packing member 3S and engages at its other end upon the cover 21CL which is provided with lugs 21C to prevent lateral movement ot said spring. This last mentioned spring acts to hold the packing members snugly up against the annular shoulder 37.

Under temperature changes in the lire and combustion chambers, both siphons 17 and 1S will take on a movement and as both siphons are lixed or anchored at their outlet ends in the crown sheet, it is apparent that such movement will manifest itseli" at the bottom or inlet end of the siphon.

ln the case of the siphon neck 18", the same will slide through the packing members 35S-3&3 without leakage. As to the siphon or siphons 17, the movement of the neck will be nianilested in the ball and socket joint before described.

lilith the structure described, it is apparent that the movements mentioned are accommodated by a structure disposed entirely outside the boiler shell and in a position easily accessible for inspection and repair. This structure may be applied locomotives already in service with but little lay-up time and may also be installed in new ones during the manufacture thereof.

lVhile in describing my invention l have referred in detail to the orm, arrangement and construction of the various parts -thereot, the same is to be considered merely as illustrative except as may be specifically set i'iorth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A locomotive boiler having a irebox including a fire and a combustion chamber', a water circulating andsteaming member in each chamber and each including an inlet end, with one of said inlet ends disposed at substantially a right angle to the other, means providing a well below the boiler and in communication therewith, means providing a slip joint connection for said inlet end of the member in the combustion chamber with said well and means providing a ball and socket joint connection for' the inlet end of said member in the firebox with said well.

2. A locomotive boiler having a ir'ebox including a'ire and a combustion chamber, a siphon disposed in each chamber and each fixed at its outlet end in the crown sheet and each having a tubular inlet end, c with one-of said ends disposed in a plane at substantially a right angle tothe other, a well below and in communication with said boiler and means providing a slip joint connecting the inlet end of the siphon in the combustion chamber with said well and means providing a ball and socket joint connecting the inlet end of the siphon Vin the lire chamber with said well.

3. A locomotive boiler having a ireboX including a ire chamber and a combustion chamber7 a flat hollow water steaming and circulating member in each chamber and each having an inlet neck at one end, means providing a well below the boiler and in communication therewith, and including a rearward tubular extension, the inlet neck of the member in said combustion chamber extending into said well, means in said well and engaging the last mentioned inlet neck to provide a slip joint connection therewith, and a tubular element secured to the inlet neck of the member in the fire chamber and having a ball and socket joint connection with said rearward tubular extension of said well providing means.

4. A locomotive boiler having a J'ireboX including a ire chamber and a combustion chamber, a ilat hollow water steaming and circulating member inV each chamber and each having an inlet neck at one end7 the inlet neck of the member in the combustion chamber extending at substantially a right angle to the inlet neck of the member in the fire chamber, means providing a well below and in communication with the boiler and into which well the inlet neck of the member in the combustion chamber extends and which means includes a rearward tubular eX- tension, and means providing a ball and socket connection for the inlet neck of the member in the fire chamber with said tubular extension of said well providing means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 13th day of August, 1929.

BERT E. LARSON. 

